New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-02-06
WHAT PEOPLE THINK AND SAY.
HAYES AND THE PRESIDENCY.


HOW HE WAS NOMINATED FOR GOVERNOR OF OHIO
IN 1875. AND HOW THAT LED TO HIS ELECTION
AS PRESIDENT.
TO the Edftor Of The Tribune.
SIZE Referring to paragraph which appeared in
Tur TR,RrNg of December 20. it is deemed proper
to correct certain therein regarding the part
taken by Clark Waggoner, as Editor Of " The Toledo
Commercial" in the nomination OF the Republican can
ddte for Governor OF Ohio in 1879 In the spring OF
1870 as by previous agreement. most OF the kepuo-
loan Journals OF the principal cities of the State sud
denIv brought out Judge TAFT for the position. Tic
main alleged reason for such movement was that the
views OF that gen eman in regard to the pubic school
system of Ohio would command tor him large vote
in the cities not to be had tor candidate with der-
eat views After careful investigation, Mr. Waggoner
became fully assured that the position OF Judge TAFT
in question. however it might be found IN the cities,
so far from giving hun strength before the people OF
the State. would prove source OF serious eakness,
which could not fail to become fatal to his candidacy
and to the entire Republican ticket And so viewing
the case Mr. Waggoner. against the powerful combt-
nation leading Republican journals OF the state, was
constr ned 20 withhold from Judge TAFT the support
of The Commercial" and tc insist upon the choice of
a candidate who could unite the Republican vote In
his support as the only means OF success.
Judge Taft's position was set forth in an opinion
delivered BY HIN Judge OF the Superior Court OF
Cincinnati in q touching the use OF the Bible IN
the public schools OF that city: In submitting MS
opinion the point in issue whether or not It were
Competent for the Board of Education to exclude the
Bible from the schools he held that the public school
system of the State imposed gross injustice upon the
Catholics who TO quote his language. were " con-
strained every year TO yield TO Others their right 10
one-third OF the school money-a sum averaging not
Less than 100000 every year-on conscientious
grounds That is to say" said Judge Taft, " these
people (the Catnolics) punished every year LOT
believing as they do to the extent of S[OOOOO and
to that extent those who send our children to
these excellent schools become tenetciaries OF the
Catholic money! 1t should he borne I'm mind that
Mr. Naggoner's objection to Judge Taft as a cand-
date was not based upon that gentlcmans opinion as
to the use of the Bible in the schools 6u. chiefly on
his virtual and emphatic demand that the Catholics
be no longer for the support OF schools to which
they should not fit to send their children.
Sometime previous Ex-Governor Hayes, IN pup
lished letter had positively declined third nona
ton Tor Governor. and Tor that reason ne was h9V
considered available as n candidate. N0twithstand
ing such fact, Mr.. Waggoner IN his paper INSISTED
upon the nomination OF that gentleman, as tho only
escape of the Republican party from defeat al 'le
same time insisting that if called by the Republcans
to become their standard-bearer a third time, he
would not feel at liberty to decline. his suggestion
was at once accepted by the Republican press ana act
I've Republicans outside the larger cities, and an
active movement for Ex-Governor Hayess nomiha-
ton followed The result reached In the nonl-
nation of that gentleman on the first ballot by VOC
CT more than two to over Judge TAFT ana IL ms
election in October following The effect OF this result
upon the Republicans OF the country was electrical
and operated at once to connect Governor hayes s
name with the Residential candidacy III 1910. Inc
rest is Known hat his selection "a a candidate iOr
President wa, due TO his election Governor could
hardly he questioned nor Is II probable that lie
would have been nominated for the latter position
against his positive decnailon, but for the vigorous
action by Mr. Waggoner. IL may here be stated
that when the Republcsn Convention met at Column
bus, The Toledo Commercial. So lar az known, was
the only Republican daily paper IN the State when
advocated the nomin alton of Ex-Governor Hayes.
Asr- York, Jan. 5, 1881